Dave Holder

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While much of the country, and in particular the Southwest, has been baking underneath a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/record-heat-rolls-east-this-week">historic heatwave</a>, a shift in the jet stream will mean cooler and wetter weather ahead! <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/swweekend-1774633996630.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>By this weekend, stronger upper-level winds will begin to overspread the Desert Southwest. As this occurs, rain and high elevation snow chances will increase both on Sunday and Monday with afternoon heating. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 115526-1774634146026.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 113717-1774634157629.png">Unfortunately, drought conditions have been building across much of the West for the last couple of weeks. Extreme and Exceptional Drought now covers the majority of western Colorado. The good news is that there is some confidence in above-average precipitation as we head into April. <video src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/southwestnextweek-1774634268367.mp4" controls="true" width="100%"></video>Precipitation chances will persist through much of next week, particularly so for the Four Corners on Tuesday. Another strong upper-level low dropping in from the Northwest could keep things active through the latter half of next week. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 114752-1774634439038.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 114800-1774634452044.png">Although not a "Drought Buster" by any means, these systems will at least help put a dent into the record-low snowpack across the West, along with some relief from the heat!

Southwest Pattern Change Ahead

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Rob grew up in South Florida, where daily afternoon storms and hurricanes piqued his interest in meteorology early on. That interest was fostered by his teachers and his father, who one time brought him onto the roof of their home to watch a funnel cloud move through the Everglades several miles away. Years of filmmaking and tv production in high school gradually pushed him toward broadcast meteorology at Florida State University, where he joined and eventually led the student run daily weather show. After graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Meteorology, he began his career at KESQ in Palm Springs, California before heading to KFSN in Fresno and WLOS in Asheville, North Carolina. He has covered a diverse array of extreme weather events, including haboobs and flash flooding in the desert, extreme snow in the Sierra, hurricanes, and Appalachian ice storms. He also enjoys telling stories and reporting about weather issues.

Connect with Rob on <a href="https://twitter.com/WxRobBradley">Twitter</a>

Rob Bradley

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A strong cold front raced across the Midwest Thursday producing numerous severe thunderstorms. Tornado warnings were issued but no reports have come in yet to confirm more than a funnel, but gusty winds topped 60 mph while large hail was the main issue.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 044015-1774608059978.png">Hail topped the size of tennis balls in Mount Etna, Indiana, with quite a few more significant hail reports over the size of golf balls! Thankfully the hail was no where near the size of the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.weathernationtv.com/news/destructive-tornadoes-hail-rip-through-central-us">record breaking 6"+ hail stone that fell about two weeks ago</a>. <h1>Next Storm System</h1>Cool and drier conditions are expected behind the front, but temperatures and humidity will recover quickly across the east through next week. A large trough is expected to move off the Rockies late in the week, bringing back several ingredients needed for severe storms. Models are still less certain about exact timing and locations for severe weather, but heavy rain and strong storms will be possible. Check back for updates!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 044152-1774608384293.png">The CPC is highlighting a large area from the Great Lakes to the Lower Mississippi for heavy rain that could lead to flooding. Severe storms will be possible in the Plains, Midwest, and South as well. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 044200-1774608391680.png">While it's still a bit too early to determine locations and threats for this next event, climatology tells us where tornadoes are more likely heading into the month of April. <img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 044209-1774608399915.png">

Patrick Crawford

Large Hail Hits the Midwest, Strong Storms Return Next Week

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ABOVE - The month of March has been setting record after record, with nearly 100 locations nationwide breaking all-time March records. Each red dot above denotes a city that has tied or broken its all-time March record.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 203348-1774578837064.png">While the heatwave will continue to dominate parts of the Southwest, a strong cold front has finally developed to bring relief to many areas along and east of the Rockies. Highs on Friday in the middle of the country will be a good 15-30 degrees cooler than on Thursday! <h1><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 051116-1774609925880.png">Heat Continues, Surges Back Briefly</h1>While some areas are getting a nice cool down this weekend, locations like Las Vegas, Palm Springs, and Phoenix are still stuck under the pesky ridge of high pressure. This will lead to additional record heat through early next week before this pattern finally comes to an end.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 202452-1774578311652.png"><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 051826-1774610317630.png">Highs stick to the 90s and 100s in the desert areas of Nevada, California, and Arizona on Friday and through the weekend. While areas like Denver and Salt Lake City are cooler on Friday, warmth quickly rebuilds this weekend. Record heat potential lingers through the mid-week in the Southwest before rain and cooler temperatures finally arrive!<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 051737-1774610482932.png">In the Central U.S., the weekend starts cool but warmth quickly rebuilds next week. The warmth is expected to last through the middle/end of the week before a trough drops temperatures and creates heavy rain potential.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-27 051751-1774610497987.png">There are signs that the pattern is beginning to change, with higher confidence in above-average temperatures shifting to the southeastern half of the country as we begin April. This would also suggest more of a classic, springtime severe thunderstorm pattern.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 203106-1774578673420.png">

More Record Highs Obliterated in Historic Heat Wave

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Top Image Credit: National Parks Service<div data-youtube-video=""><iframe width="640" height="480" allowfullscreen="false" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8V6xqwukzO0" start="0"></iframe></div>Spring is here and so are the blooms of flowers all across North America. This includes the famous cherry tree bloom around the National Mall in Washington, D.C.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 080814-1774534143457.png">On Thursday, March 26th, the National Mall announced peak bloom has been reached! The peak is expected to last about a week or so, depending on weather conditions. On March 5th, the National Park Service announced its projected peak cherry blossom date for 2026, which was only off by about 3 days, an impressive forecast! <h2>What is "peak bloom"?</h2>The peak bloom date is defined as the day when 70% of the Yoshino Cherry blossoms are open, one of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/types-of-trees.htm">many types of cherry trees</a> in the area. Peak bloom usually lasts for several days, with the blooms taking <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.nps.gov/subjects/cherryblossom/bloom-watch.htm">about two to three weeks to reach peak</a> after the appearance of green buds. As buds begin to appear, the forecast peak date will be updated by National Park Service horticulturists.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 080844-1774534352362.png"><h2>Past Blooms</h2><img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-06 080035-1772811048593.png"> Due to variable weather conditions, peak bloom has occurred as early as March 15th (1990) and as late as April 18th (1958).Visiting the blossoming cherry trees has become a favorite springtime tradition for Americans and tourists alike, dating back to 1912 when Japan gifted the U.S. about 3,000 cherry trees. The cherry trees in Japan have been putting on a show for thousands of years, with the dates of blooms being <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ourworldindata.org/grapher/date-of-the-peak-cherry-tree-blossom-in-kyoto">recorded all the way back to the 9th century</a>. The dates for this year's peak blooms in Japan are expected from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.japan-guide.com/sakura/">late March through late April</a> from north to south across the nation.

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

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It's been unbearably hot across the west for the last week, after warm and dry conditions for a good chunk of the winter season. This has led to drought conditions, with dry vegetation ready to burn.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 132958-1774553409830.png"> As a cold front drops south to end this week, dry and gusty conditions are expected to develop that will lead to a elevated fire risk Friday and Saturday. Fire threat extends from the Southern Plains back into the Upper Midwest.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/1-1774578346064.png">Further updates on the more recent Morrill Fire (the largest in Nebraska state history) have shown increasing containment. However, two additional fires broke out overnight into early Thursday 3/26. The Ashby and Minor fires very quickly grew by tens of thousands of acres very close to the Morrill burn scar. Given the continued fire weather conditions, these fires will likely continue to grow at a rapid pace.<img src="https://media.weathernationtv.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Screenshot 2026-03-26 132905-1774553363826.png">Keep it locked in on WeatherNation, as we continue to update you on these fires and their impacts!

More Record Highs Obliterated in Historic Heat Wave

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

Southwest Pattern Change Ahead

Large Hail Hits the Midwest, Strong Storms Return Next Week

More Record Highs Obliterated in Historic Heat Wave

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger

Southwest Pattern Change Ahead

Large Hail Hits the Midwest, Strong Storms Return Next Week

More Record Highs Obliterated in Historic Heat Wave

PEAK BLOOM - Cherry Blossoms Emerge at the National Mall

Passing Fronts Increase Fire Danger